Books like Murder Gets a Makeover by Laura Levine

Jaine Austen, a freelance writer for hire who lives in Los Angeles with her cat Prozac, enjoys the freedom of freelance work—especially the wardrobe freedom that comes with elastic waists. When her best friend Lance persuades her to be a model for Uber‑stylist Bebe Braddock’s Instagram makeover campaign, Jaine is whisked away to Bebe’s Brentwood mansion to undergo a dramatic transformation. Bebe’s high‑profile salon, meanwhile, hides a toxic environment where the stylist bullies assistants and even partners to meet her high standards. After Bebe is found strangled with a wire hanger—an object she detested and one that leaves Jaine’s prints on the weapon—the police quickly label her a prime suspect. With the press and even Bebe’s own personal assistant Justin getting involved, Jaine must untangle the relationships, romance, and paranoia surrounding the stylish murder before a prison jumpsuit becomes her new wardrobe. This cozy mystery mixes witty fashion commentary, a gentle romantic subplot, and a twisty chase for the killer, all wrapped in Jaine’s keen journalistic eye.

First publish date: 2021